Rugby Inflatables Complete Customer Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Bouncy Castle
From choosing the right inflatable and checking your space to
delivery, weather, supervision and collection, this guide walks
you through the complete bouncy castle hire process.
18 Helpful Chapters
Indoor & Outdoor Hire
Safety & Supervision
Updated August 2026
Everything You Need to Know Before Hiring
Hiring a bouncy castle can be one of the highlights of a children's
party, family celebration, school event or community occasion.
However, choosing an inflatable is only one part of planning a
successful hire.
You also need to think about the available space, access, surface,
venue, electrical supply, weather, supervision and the people who
will be using the equipment.
We've created this guide to explain the process from the earliest
planning stages through to collection at the end of your hire.
How to use this guide
Read it from beginning to end if this is your first inflatable hire,
or use the contents below to jump directly to the subject you need.
We've also linked to our more detailed specialist guides throughout
the page.
Guide Contents
The guide is divided into four parts, taking you from the first
planning decisions through to hire day, safety and final checks.
Part One
Planning Your Hire
Getting the basics right before you book makes the rest of the process much easier.
Before choosing a bouncy castle, start with the basic details of your event.
The date, location, type of celebration and intended users can all affect
which equipment is suitable.
Start with these questions
- What date is the event?
- Will it take place at home or at a venue?
- Will the inflatable be indoors or outdoors?
- What age range will be using it?
- How much usable space is available?
- Is there suitable access to the setup area?
Planning a children's party?
Our Party Planning Hub brings together venue, supplier, booking,
delivery and safety information in one place.
Visit the Party Planning Hub
One of the first decisions is whether your inflatable will be installed
in a garden or inside a suitable hall or venue.
Outdoor garden hire
Outdoor hire can be ideal during suitable weather, provided there is
sufficient natural grass or soil for secure anchoring, suitable access
and enough operating space.
Outdoor hires remain dependent on safe weather conditions.
Indoor hire
Indoor hire removes many of the weather concerns associated with an
outdoor party, but the venue must have sufficient floor space,
ceiling height, access and a suitable electrical supply.
Never assume an inflatable will fit based only on its physical dimensions.
Additional clearance is required for installation, anchoring, the blower
and safe operation.
When comparing your available area with an inflatable, use the
Required Space rather than the unit dimensions alone.
Check four things
- Available width.
- Available depth.
- Available height or overhead clearance.
- The access route to the setup area.
Remember:
Garden furniture, flower beds, sheds, trees, stages, pillars, beams,
lighting and other obstacles can reduce the usable space.
04
Choosing the Right Inflatable
The best inflatable isn't necessarily the largest one. It should suit
the available space, location and intended users.
Consider:
- The ages and sizes of the intended users.
- The available operating space.
- Indoor ceiling height where applicable.
- Whether you'd prefer a standard castle or a bounce-and-slide combination.
- The overall style of your event.
If you're unsure which option is suitable, contact us with your date,
location and measurements and we'll be happy to advise.
05
Understanding the Price
Professional inflatable hire involves much more than simply delivering
a bouncy castle.
The hire price contributes towards the equipment itself, inspections,
maintenance, cleaning, insurance, electrical equipment, anchoring,
transport, setup, safety checks, collection and the administration
required to operate the service.
Any applicable booking charges or extras should be shown as part of
your booking before it is completed.
Part Two
Booking & Preparation
Once you've chosen the right equipment, it's time to secure your booking and prepare the location.
06
Booking Your Inflatable
Our online booking system allows you to choose your equipment,
provide your event details and submit your booking.
Please provide accurate information about the delivery location,
setup surface, access, venue times and intended use. This helps us
review suitability before the hire.
A £20 non-refundable deposit per inflatable
is normally required to secure the booking.
Your booking communications will contain important information.
Please read them carefully and let us know if any details are incorrect.
07
Preparing for Delivery
Preparing the setup area before we arrive helps us complete the
installation efficiently and safely.
Before our arrival
- Clear the setup area of furniture, toys and other obstacles.
- Make sure the access route is clear.
- Arrange suitable parking or unloading access where possible.
- Make sure the required electrical supply is available.
- Keep pets away from the working area during setup.
- Tell us about any access restrictions before the hire.
When we arrive, our team will inspect the proposed setup area before
installing the equipment.
The inflatable is positioned, inflated and secured using the appropriate
anchoring method. Setup and safety checks are then completed before
the equipment is handed over.
We'll also explain the important operating and safety information
that applies to your hire.
If the proposed setup area is unsuitable or the equipment cannot be
installed safely, we may be unable to proceed with the setup.
09
Village Halls & Venue Hires
Venue hires need a little more planning because we must work within
the venue's access and exit times.
Before booking, check:
- The venue access time.
- The actual party start and finish times.
- The time everyone and all equipment must be out.
- The usable floor space.
- The lowest usable ceiling height.
- Access from the vehicle to the setup area.
- The availability of suitable electrical power.
Don't book the venue for exactly the same times as your party.
We need sufficient access before the event for setup and after the
event for collection.
Need More Detail?
This Ultimate Guide gives you the complete overview. These six
specialist guides go deeper into the subjects customers most
commonly need help with.
Indoor Bouncy Castle Hire Guide
Ceiling height, floor space, access, anchoring, power and indoor setup.
Read Guide 141
Bouncy Castle Size & Space Guide
Compare unit dimensions with the actual operating space required.
Read Guide 142
What Happens on the Day?
Follow the setup, safety-check, handover and collection process.
Read Guide 143
Garden Bouncy Castle Hire Guide
Outdoor surfaces, access, preparation, power and weather.
Read Guide 144
Village Halls & Venues Guide
Venue measurements, access times, ceiling height and collection.
Read Guide 145
Safety & Supervision Guide
Responsible supervision, user behaviour and what to do if a concern develops.
Read Guide 146
Part Three
Safe Use During Your Hire
Once the inflatable is handed over, appropriate supervision and responsible use remain essential.
A responsible person aged 18 or over must supervise
the inflatable while it is available for use.
Effective supervision means actively watching what is happening,
managing user behaviour and acting if something becomes unsafe.
The supervisor should help ensure:
- User numbers remain appropriate.
- Users follow the safety instructions.
- Unsafe or excessively rough behaviour is stopped.
- Food, drink and inappropriate objects stay off the inflatable.
- The entrance and exit remain clear.
- Changes in weather or equipment condition are acted upon.
The instructions provided during handover and displayed on the
inflatable should be followed throughout the hire.
Good practice includes:
- Using the inflatable only for its intended purpose.
- Keeping the entrance and surrounding area clear.
- Preventing overcrowding.
- Separating significantly different sizes of users where appropriate.
- Removing shoes, sharp objects and unsuitable items before use.
- Keeping food and drink away from the inflatable.
- Stopping use immediately if a safety concern develops.
If you're ever unsure whether the equipment should continue to be used,
stop use and contact Rugby Inflatables for advice.
Weather is one of the most important considerations for an outdoor
inflatable hire.
Inflatable equipment must not be operated in unsafe wind conditions.
Rugby Inflatables uses a maximum operating wind speed of
24 mph, or a lower limit where specified for the
individual inflatable.
Heavy rain, storms, extreme heat or other unsafe conditions may also
affect whether a hire can safely proceed or continue.
Weather conditions can change during the day. The responsible
supervisor must follow the weather and wind guidance provided for
the hire and stop use when required.
13
What If Something Changes?
If something doesn't look or feel right during your hire, don't
continue using the equipment simply because the party is underway.
Stop use if you notice:
- A significant change in weather conditions.
- An anchorage concern.
- Unexpected loss of inflation or pressure.
- A problem with the blower or electrical supply.
- Damage to the inflatable.
- Anything else that makes you question whether continued use is safe.
Stop users from entering the inflatable and contact Rugby Inflatables
if you need assistance. Do not attempt to repair, reposition or alter
the equipment yourself.
At the end of the hire, we'll return to dismantle and remove our equipment.
Please help by ensuring:
- All users are off the inflatable.
- Personal belongings have been removed.
- Food, decorations and party items are clear of the equipment.
- The access route remains available.
- A responsible adult remains available until collection is complete.
Please do not switch off, deflate, move or dismantle the inflatable
unless instructed to do so by Rugby Inflatables.
Part Four
Final Advice
A few final checks can help you book confidently and enjoy your event.
15
Choosing a Bouncy Castle Hire Company
Price is important, but it shouldn't be the only thing you consider
when choosing an inflatable hire company.
Useful things to look for include:
- Appropriate public liability insurance.
- Suitable inflatable inspection and testing arrangements.
- Clear safety information.
- Professional installation and anchoring.
- Clear booking terms.
- Reliable contact information.
- Evidence of equipment maintenance and cleaning.
16
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bouncy castle go on artificial grass?
Rugby Inflatables does not install outdoor inflatables on artificial
grass. Our outdoor setups require suitable natural grass or soil for
secure ground anchoring.
Can you set up on concrete or tarmac?
We do not normally provide outdoor garden installations on hard-standing
surfaces such as concrete or tarmac.
Can bouncy castles be used indoors?
Yes, provided the venue has sufficient usable floor space, ceiling
height, suitable access and power for the chosen inflatable.
How much access do you need?
Approximately 3ft of clear access is normally required
unless another arrangement has been agreed with us.
Who needs to supervise the inflatable?
A responsible person aged 18 or over must supervise the inflatable
while it is available for use.
What happens if the weather is unsafe?
Safety takes priority. Outdoor hires may need to be changed, stopped
or cancelled if conditions are unsuitable. Please refer to the
weather information supplied for your booking.
Before completing your booking, run through this quick checklist.
Bouncy Castle Hire Checklist
✓ Date selected
✓ Delivery location confirmed
✓ Indoor or outdoor setup decided
✓ Available space measured
✓ Required Space checked
✓ Access route checked
✓ Suitable surface confirmed
✓ Power supply available
✓ Venue access times confirmed
✓ Suitable adult supervision arranged
✓ Weather guidance understood
✓ Booking information reviewed
If you've checked your location, measured the available space and
found an inflatable that's suitable for your event, you're ready to
check availability.
If you're still unsure, you don't need to guess. Contact us with
your date, postcode, setup location and available measurements and
we'll be happy to help.
Continue Planning
You can now explore the part of the Rugby Inflatables website that's
most relevant to your event.
Party Planning Hub
Find our main planning resources, venues, suppliers and guides.
Party Planning Hub
Indoor Bouncy Castle Hire
Explore our information for hall and indoor venue bookings.
Indoor Hire
Local Party Venues
Browse venue guides for halls around Rugby and surrounding areas.
View Venues
Safety Documentation
View our supporting safety documents and risk assessments.
Safety Documents
Bounce • Play • Party • Fun
Thank You for Reading
We hope this guide has helped you understand what goes into planning
a safe and enjoyable inflatable hire. If you have a question that
isn't covered here, please contact us before booking.
Browse Our Inflatables
Contact Us
Rugby Inflatables Ultimate Guide
18 Chapters • Reviewed August 2026
This guide provides general customer information and does not replace
the booking terms, safety handover or instructions supplied for a
specific hire.